Rough and Ready

by Alfred Wheeler

We'll sing a song to suit the times,
With voices bold and steady,
And cheerily we'll tell in rhymes
Of good old Rough and Ready.
His foes may slander as they can,
And bluster at his manners,
Who cares a fig? He's just the man
To lead the Yankee banners.

 Then Rough and Ready let it ring,
 And set the bells a chiming,
 Where'er we go we're bound to sing
 His praises in our rhyming.

In Florida he gained a name
That won our admiration,
And loudly has his gallant fame
Been echoed thro' the nation.
There's not a heart in all the land,
That beats not firm and steady,
For the hero of the Rio Grande,
Old gallant Rough and Ready.

 Then Rough and Ready let it ring,
 And set the bells a chiming,
 Where'er we go we're bound to sing
 His praises in our rhyming.

At Monterrey he showed the world
That Yankees ne'er are daunted,
The flag of freedom he unfurled,
And on the towers planted;
And there it waves in triumph high
'Mid freemen bold and steady,
A monument to every eye
Of gallant Rough and Ready.

 Then Rough and Ready let it ring,
 And set the bells a chiming,
 Where'er we go we're bound to sing
 His praises in our rhyming.

Old Zach's the boy for Santa Anna,
Ampudia or Arista,
And long 'twill be ere they forget
The field of Buena Vista.
Though legions of the foeman swarm,
Against our brave defenders,
Old Rough and Ready they will find
The man who ne'er surrenders.

 Then Rough and Ready let it ring,
 And set the bells a chiming,
 Where'er we go we're bound to sing
 His praises in our rhyming.

Success has aye with glory bright
Upon his path attended,
And give him but the chance to fight,
The war will soon be ended.
And never shall Columbia cease
To cherish long and steady,
The man in war and peace,
The same old Rough and Ready.

 Then Rough and Ready let it ring,
 And set the bells a chiming,
 Where'er we go we're bound to sing
 His praises in our rhyming.

Now we predict it won't be long,
In spite of Madam Rumor,
Before we sing this very song
In the Halls of Montezuma.
And then we'll shout in chorus strong,
With voices firm and steady,
And this the burden of our song,
Old gallant Rough and Ready.